Best Tech Superbowl Commercials

2. Radio Shack, 1982 -- TRS-80 Computer

Oh, God — we want the Radio Shack TRS-80 to put the world of color computing into our home! It’s just so — does that say Tandy? Oh, Tandy! You remind us of Oregon Trail, Carmen Sandiego and the sweet smell of tears that was school.

The TRS-80 is a firm reminder of how quickly our technology has progressed. Hell, we’re kind of impressed by the little computer itself! Still, to look at that and look at something like the iPhone and it’s just an amazing feat of human engineering.

If we don’t kill ourselves with war, famine, global warming, creating a black hole accidentally, or just plain ol’ angering God (Xerox), we can’t wait to see what technology will look like in another 30 years.

And the #1 Best Technology-Related Superbowl Commercial Ever is….

1. Apple, 1984 -- Macintosh

We didn’t want to — we really didn’t. This commercial is so popular, so well-known that it’s almost a cliché to pick it as the top of any list. But, really, has there been any ad — especially tech-related — that has imprinted itself on our memory more than this one?

It’s a beautiful piece of filmmaking. Dramatic and memorable, it promised changed, destruction of the old ways, a technological revolution. Did it happen? Not then. But it’s 2010 and everyone has an iPhone, listens to iPods and raves about their Macbooks… wait a minute. 1984 wasn’t like 1984, but 2010 kind of feels like it, doesn’t it?

Oh god, Macintosh wasn’t talking about themselves as our savior – this commercial was Steve Jobs going back in time to warn us against the evil that his company would become!

…we know now why you cry, John Connor.